1 . Looking for a true out-of-this-world vacation? Then you are in luck! Texas-based start-up Orion Span announced they were taking reservations for Aurora (极光) Station, the world’s first luxury hotel in space.

The pill-shaped space station will measure 43.5 feet long and 14.1 feet wide—about the size of a large private jet’s cabin—when completed. It will accommodate four guests in two private suites and two crew members, most likely former astronauts. Hovering about 200 miles above the Earth, Aurora Station will circle the planet once every 90 minutes, enabling guests to enjoy 16 spectacular sunrises and sunsets daily, as well as scores of the breathtaking northern and southern auroras that the hotel is named after.

While admiring the beauty of our planet, tourists can have non-astronaut food and drinks or entertain themselves with playing cards. Those hoping to do something more worthwhile will be able to engage in astronaut-like experiments such as growing food in a special environment. The Wi-Fi-enabled spacecraft will make it easy for guests to share their experiences with friends and family members on Earth. At the end of the week and half-long vacation, returning guests will be treated to a special “hero’s welcome”, similar to the one experienced by astronauts returning from a real mission.

Before the once-in-a-lifetime trip, guests will have to undergo a three-month special training learning how to move in a weightless environment, along with the basics of space flight and orbital mechanics. Also, before you start packing your bags, you will have to pay $9.5 million for the 12-day round-trip vacation.

While several companies are planning to build hotels in space, Orion Span hopes to transform sections of used rockets floating in space into hotel rooms, instead of crowding the already messy skies with additional man-made objects.

3 . If you’re traveling to South America in summer, you should have Patagonia (at the southern end of South America) high up on your list of things to do. With this list, I show you the best places to visit in Patagonia. The climate down there is pretty rough, especially in the very south—if you plan to do hiking or camping, the ideal moment for a trip is between the end of November and the beginning of March.

1. Bariloche, Argentina

The fact that Bariloche is well connected (airport, direct bus to and from Buenos Aires) makes it the perfect starting point of a round trip through Patagonia. But more than that: the combination of mountains, lakes and green forests results in its beautiful scenery.

2. Futaleufú, Chile

Further down south and a bit harder to access is the small Chilean village Futaleufú which is located at the border to Argentina. The reason which makes it worth it: the Futaleufú River is often referred to as one of the best white water spots for rafting in the world. The landscape along the river is unique and, due to its location, still pretty much untouched.

3. Puerto Rio Tranquilo, Chile

If you want to get there quickly, you should travel through Argentina and cross over to Chile Chico as this place is also very remote. The reason to do so: the marble caves in the General Carrera lake.

4. Torres del Paine, Chile

Personally the national park Torres del Paine is my top pick in Patagonia you should take some time and do a multi-day trek to experience as much of it as possible: glaciers, forests, impressive mountain ranges, lagoons and rivers.

6 . Travel allows us to experience the world. But as we travel, we are also leaving our footprint on every place we visit. This is why culturally immersive (沉浸) travel is so important. Because the wrong kind of travel badly influences the world. One of the reasons we started this blog was to help others travel better and feel comfortable getting off the beaten path (常规路), communicating with locals, and take you “Beyond the traditional Bucket”, if you will.

People who only get 2-weeks off per year are often just looking for an easy destination with a beach to relax on. This isn’t travel. This is a vacation. But “immersive Travel” or "Cultural Travel" is an entirely new type of trip. It is about experiencing and protecting the various traditions around the world. It’s about being open to new experiences and willing to step into another’s shoes. Cultural travel is jumping in with both feet and leaving your idea about what your trip should be behind you. It’s eating local dishes and sleeping in guesthouses. It’s building genuine connections with locals. It’s learning about the history of a country and leaving your trip with a greater understanding of the place you came to see and the people who live there.

Often times in today’s age, “travelers” will visit a country just to snap some photos of the famous sights to post on Instagram or to drink the night away, or even just to relax on a tropical beach. But that kind of vacation can be harmful to the very communities you’re traveling to.

Beyond supporting the local communities and the protection of local customs and traditions, you’ll also experience some personal benefits through cultural travels. There’s simply no way to travel this way with a closed mind. You’ll get to know different cultures intimately and understand them a lot better. You’ll also become less judgmental (评头论足的) of others the more you travel.